So when child two is ready to start food, it isn’t hard for fear to start creeping in—the what ifs. The persistent fear they, too, will develop allergies. I’ve heard it from numerous parents. A near paralyzing fear of introducing solids. Hawkishly monitoring for any sign of a reaction when you finally do. The immense sense of relief when they don’t react.
While a single study hardly makes scientific consensus, one large study published in 2016 should ease parents’ minds some; only 13.6% of biological siblings of a child with food allergies had one themselves. But for many parents, myself included, data does little to ease the nagging fear that history will repeat itself.
Data also suggests that early introduction of allergens for kids at high risk helps reduce the chance of developing a food allergy. And if I’m anything, it is a sucker for science.
So, we’ve begun food introductions recently. We started with top allergens as recommended despite the dread. We got through my allergens (peanuts and apples) without issue. Without reacting, we got through tree nuts (including one of my son’s allergens). And then it happened. Our old nemesis. Sesame. That creeping rash, the one that signals an immune system, has gone haywire. The one food allergy patients and caregivers know well.
I wouldn’t know for sure if it was an allergic reaction. But I know that it was different this time around (compared to doing food introductions with my son). We were prepared. Antihistamine. Check. Photos of the reaction. Check. Eye to the clock. Check. Call the doctor. Check. Hands on the phone, ready to call 911. Check.
Calm, cool, and collected while monitoring. Angry, disappointed, and scared for her future, but in control of the present (as much as possible during an allergic reaction). Panic serves no one, but tell that to a parent when their first child has their first reaction. But as a second-time parent, everything is different.
I hope my second doesn’t have an allergy. We are following up with our allergist, and time (and testing) will tell. But the one thing I do know is that whatever happens, my fear is no match for my experience. And I hope that any parent fearful of introducing foods the second time around can remember that if they can do this once, with no experience, they most certainly have the tools to manage food allergies a second time around, even if the fear tells you that you don’t.